U-Men: U-Men [Album Review]

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U-Men U-Men Sub Pop Records [2017] Who: From 1983 to 1987, the U-Men were the hype of the Seattle Underground. The band recorded a handful of singles and one full length album in 1988. This new collection features the U-Men’s entire studio-recorded output plus 5 unreleased songs. Sound: You might expect the early days of … Read more

Pearl Jam: Let’s Play Two [Album Review]

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Pearl Jam Let’s Play Two Republic [2017] Fire Note Says: The audio companion to the Danny Clinch film of the same title, features the concert performances of some of Pearl Jam’s best known songs recorded during the band’s two day stand at Chicago’s home of the Cub’s baseball club in August, before they won the … Read more

Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet [Album Review]

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Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another Planet Dead Oceans [2017] Who: Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. She’s released two albums under the Japanese Breakfast moniker entitled Psychopomp in 2016 and her latest Soft Sounds From Another Earth. Sound: I have to say that Michelle Zauner has one … Read more

CousteauX: CousteauX [Album Review]

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CousteauX CousteauX Silent X Records [2017] Fire Note Says: CousteauX creates music that recalls James Bond soundtracks and Las Vegas show bands, echoing the likes of Burt Bacharach and Nick Cave. Album Review: Cousteau, a London-based pop band that scored a European hit back at the end of the last century with “The Last Good … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: The Soft Moon – “Burn”

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“I can’t control myself, I can’t control myself” is the desperate cry of The Soft Moon’s Luis Vasquez’s on today’s Friday Fire Track, “Burn.” It is the intense lead off track from The Soft Moon’s fourth studio record, Criminal, which is due out February 2nd, 2018 via Sacred Bones Records. This track has a rounded … Read more

The Replacements: For Sale – Live At Maxwell’s 1986 [Album Review]

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The Replacements For Sale: Live At Maxwell’s 1986 Sire/Rhino [2017] Fire Note Says: Minneapolis’ 80’s punk heroes captured live in all their raw, ragged glory. Album Review: Gather round my children, and I’ll tell you a story about a far distant time called the 80’s when punk bands weren’t mere fashion statements marketed by corporations, … Read more

Protomartyr: Relatives In Descent [Album Review]

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Protomartyr Relatives In Descent Domino Records [2017] Who: Detroit’s Protomartyr are a post punk band that has just released their fourth lp and first for Domino Records. Sound: If Nick Cave fronted a modern era post punk band with a refined edge and a spoken word style that is like The Hold Steady you would … Read more

Girlpool: Powerplant [Album Review]

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Girlpool Powerplant ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Girlpool comes and goes too quick! Album Review: Girlpool is an LA band that consists of its two founding members, Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad, plus a new drummer, Miles Wintner, for their sophomore album. Their debut came out two years ago, and with the addition of a … Read more

Weezer: Pacific Daydream [Album Review]

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Weezer Pacific Daydream Crush/Atlantic Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo continues his infatuation with the Beach Boys while mixing his power chord anthems with mellower pop inclinations. Album Review: You can’t say Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo doesn’t wear his influences on his sleeve. On last year’s self-titled (White Album) everything pointed to the Beach … Read more

Angel Olsen: Phases [Album Review]

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Angel Olsen Phases Jagjaguwar [2017] Who: Indie singer/songwriter Angel Olsen began performing at a young age in St. Louis coffee shops and now after three full length albums she has progressed into one of the best female voices on the scene. Phases is a collection of B-sides, rarities, and demos from the past several years, … Read more

Wolf Alice: Visions Of A Life [Album Review]

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Wolf Alice Visions Of A Life RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Wolf Alice stay strong on their sophomore album. Album Review: Visions of a Life is Wolf Alice’s follow-up to their stellar 2015 debut, My Love Is Cool. The first album established the Brits as a rock band that could play many different styles … Read more

The She’s – “Sorry” [Video]

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San Francisco’s The She’s have a new music video for their single, “Sorry.” Hannah Valente (vocals, guitar) says, “The song and video are about the fragility of relationships. It’s about wanting to hold onto the fantasy or those last wisps of when it was amazing, but in the end knowing it isn’t meant to be.”

The She’s forthcoming sophomore album, “all female rock and roll quartet”, is to be released November 17th via Empty Cellar Records (The Cairo Gang, Cool Ghouls, The Sandwitches, Magic Trick). The four piece, who have been playing music together since elementary school, self-produced the 12-song album with counsel and encouragement from tUne-Yards’ Merrill Garbus.

You can pre-order their sophomore record HERE.

Big Head Todd And The Monsters: New World Arisin’ [Album Review]

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Big Head Todd And The Monsters New World Arisin’ Big Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Colorado jam band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters get better with age. Album Review: There are some bands that peak early. They come fresh out of the box with that one big idea that will set them apart, all … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Sunwatchers – “Silent Boogie”

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We are happy to feature the newest song from the New York ensemble Sunwatchers. The band returns in 2018 with their sophomore record simply titled II, which is due out on February 2nd via Trouble In Mind Records. Hopefully you remember the band’s self-titled debut that Castle Face Records released in 2016, which was the … Read more

Curtis Harding: Face Your Fear [Album Review]

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Curtis Harding Face Your Fear ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Curtis Harding can hold a groove with the best! Album Review: With the recent passing of the “Screaming Eagle of Soul,” Charles Bradley in September, Sonny Knight in June and Sharon Jones last year, the retro soul movement has taken a serious blow. Their talents … Read more

Kesha: Rainbow [Album Review]

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Kesha Rainbow RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Album Review: Everybody loves a redemption story, a tale of the tortured soul who deals with their demons, whether external or internal, and returns in full possession of their artistic gifts. Thus the tale of Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly of the $, who escaped her Svengali of … Read more

Sleepies: Melt To You [Album Review]

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Sleepies  Melt To You Mirror Universe Tapes [2017] Who: Brooklyn-based SLEEPiES release yet another winner with this 4-track EP. Sound: Melt To You EP is another product from the SLEEPiES machine that spits out cool music. Release after release, this band just hit the spot when you need some sketchy-yet-catchy post-punk rock. TFN Final Take: … Read more

Bruce Cockburn: Bone On Bone [Album Review]

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Bruce Cockburn Bone On Bone True North Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living singer-songwriter that most Americans have never heard of. Album Review: Even with 33 albums to his name and a host of music awards in his native Canada, Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living … Read more

Julien Baker: Turn Out The Lights [Album Review]

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Julien Baker Turn Out The Lights 6131/Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Julien Baker tells a story that you instantly will want to hear again. Album Review: When we first heard Julien Baker on her 2015 debut, Sprained Ankle, you had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last from the young Memphis artist. Her delicate … Read more

METZ – “Drained Lake” [Video]

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Here is METZ’s new video for “Drained Lake,” from their recently released album Strange Peace which is out now on Sub Pop Records. Director Shayne Ehman (who also directed the band’s video for “Cellophane”) highlights no less than the transient nature of time and space, through cutlery and kitchen wares. Fun video stuff!

METZ will begin the European leg of their 2017 international tour on November 2nd in Prague at the Futurum until the band returns to North America on December 7th, with a show in Seattle at Neumos. All of their current tour dates follow:

Nov. 02 – Prague, CZ – Futurum !
Nov. 03 – Wroclaw, PL – Klub Firlej !
Nov. 04 – Warsaw, PL – Klub Hydrozagadka !
Nov. 06 – Berlin, DE – Bi Nuu !
Nov. 07 – Copenhagen, DE – Loppen !
Nov. 08 – Hamburg, DE – Knust !
Nov. 09 – Zwolle, NL – Poppodium Hedon ^
Nov. 10 – Kortrijk, BE – De Kruen (Sonic City Festival)
Nov. 11 – Utrecht, NL – Le Guess Who? Festival
Nov. 12 – Le Havre, FR – Le Tetris %
Nov. 14 – Nimes, FR – La Paloma %
Nov. 15 – Bordeaux, FR – Theatre Barbey %
Nov. 16 – Toulouse, FR – Club Metronum %
Nov. 17 – Barcelona, ES – La (2) De Apolo %
Nov. 18 – Madrid, ES – Moby Dick %
Nov. 20 – Nantes, FR – Pole Etudiant %
Nov. 21 – Paris, FR – Le Trabendo %
Nov. 22 – London, UK – The Garage %
Nov. 23 – Bristol, UK – The Fleece %
Nov. 24 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club %
Nov. 25 – Brighton, UK – The Haunt
Dec. 07 – Seattle, WA – Neumos **
Dec. 08 – Vancouver, BC – Cobalt **
Dec. 09 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir **
Dec. 11 – San Francisco, CA – Independent **
Dec. 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram **
Dec. 13 – San Diego, CA – Casbah **
Dec. 15 – Austin, TX – Mohawk & **

!w/ Protomartyr
^ w/ Brian Case
% w/ Drahla
& w/ Cherubs
** w/ Moaning